Seasons

Chapter 7 - Coral

"I hate math with a passion," groaned Rikki as she clambered into her tiny car, slamming the door and blasting us with air conditioning.

I turned the fan towards my face as sighed as the cool blow hit my skin. I was riding shotgun and Emily was in the back seat.

"Gu-u-uys..." She complained, her voice muffled by her knees which were pushed up against her face by our bags lying on the floor.

"Sorry babes," grinned Rikki, glancing at her in the mirror as she cranked the car into gear. Emily glared at her and I giggled.

We rolled out onto the highway as Emily unzipped her bag and threw bikinis at us. God, she was so organised.

"Tunes?" Asked Rikki, twisting the knob on the radio before we even got a chance to reply. Music began to blare out of the speakers and we rolled down of our windows, singing along at the top of our voices.

I stuck my arm out and felt the warm air rush past and the shadows of palm trees dappling my forearm which was already a healthy honey bronze from the sun.

...

We reached the beach in good time, spilling out of Rikki's Fiat as soon as she pulled to a stop, Emily still complaining about her sore legs.

We jogged over towards Rikki's hut, stumbling in the warm sand and laughing.

She unlocked it and we crammed inside, quickly changing and running back out whooping as we hurtled down the beach towards the surf.

Our feet hit the water and Rikki tripped, face planting into the foaming sea. She arose giggling, wiping her eyes before diving into the water and swimming away. I could instantly see that she was a swimmer, with her strong shoulders propelling her forward, cutting through the waves with ease.

I beckoned to Emily and we dived in after Rikki.

The world suddenly went silent as I plunged under. Bubbles rolled along my cheeks as I kicked strongly, the water cool against my body. My hands hit the sea floor and skimmed the sand. I felt my way along, blinded by the saltwater.

Suddenly something grabbed my ankle. I shot upwards, breaking the surface gasping and spluttering.

Rikki and Emily were bobbing beside me, laughing their heads off.

"That was so not funny!" I exclaimed, still breathing heavily.

"You're right, it was hilarious," wheezed Rikki and Emily ducked under next to her as she held her sides, unable to swim. "Come on scaredy-cat," she teased, taking my hand, "let's go exploring."

We swam slowly out to sea, Rikki diving and splashing like a dolphin sending arcs of spray into the air, forming rainbows. Emily and I followed, chatting and laughing.

We soon reached the end of the cove, away from the noise and lights of the boardwalk. It was calmer here, the wind ceasing as cliffs rose up ahead of us. Their granite faces were scarred with years of waves, riddled with crevices and cracks.

"So she's like, a seriously good swimmer then?" I asked Emily.

"Yeah," she replied, "she's been to nationals and everything. She trains every morning before school and late evenings."

I whistled out, impressed.

"Hey guys!" Rikki called from the base of the cliff, "come check this out."

Emily looked over at me and shrugged before paddling over to join her.

We bobbed in the water, our fingers resting on the jagged rock.